Estate Planning & Probate in Smith County, Mississippi
Smith County estate questions split two ways—planning so your family skips probate, or settling an estate that is already in it. This page points you to the right path—planning ahead, or settling an estate at the Chancery Court.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the Chancery Court, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Smith County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Smith County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Smith County→The Probate Process in Smith County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Smith County, probate runs through the Chancery Court at 201 Courthouse Square, Raleigh.
Full Smith Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Chancery Court
Smith County
Address
Phone
Hours
Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
Chancery Clerk
Smith County · Chancery Clerk · Cindy Austin
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
$25 for the first 5 pages plus $1 for each page beyond 5; a 2-page TOD deed records for $25; TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax.
Full recording details →Verified September 7, 2026 · Source
Local Procedures at the Chancery Court
Effective September 24, 2025, pursuant to House Bill 600 (amending Miss. Code 89-5-24), handwritten documents are no longer accepted for recording in any Mississippi Chancery Clerk office. All documents must be typed or printed. Chancery Clerk records and Chancery Court sessions are held in the Chancery Building located across from the main Smith County Courthouse on Courthouse Square in Raleigh.
Mississippi Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Smith County.
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